Excavating machine



March 21, 1933. R. R. DOWNIE EXCIAVATI NG MACHINE filed July 14 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY March 21, 1933. RR. DOWNIE EXCAVATINGmourns Filed July 14, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WVW INVENTQR RKflomaeATTORNEY Patented Mar. 21, 1933 303E311: REX DOWNIE, or BEAVER FALLS,PENNSYLVANIA EXCAVATING M ACHIN E jlkpplication' filefi July 14,

. This inventionrelates to methods of and means for operatingexcavat1ng"mach1nes,

particularly in the dumping phase of the ex- I cavating cycle; and amongother objects, the

-15 invention aims to provide an improved method and means permittingcontrol of dumping in any position of the scoop, without material changein the position of the scoop, and without theprovision of a specialdumping line or its mechanical equivalent. Referring to the accompanyingdrawings,

,Fig. 1 is a'sectional elevation of a skimmer scoop with a latchoperating mechanism embodying the invention; r t

4 Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the same, the parts beingbroken away; I Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rearelevation;

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan View; and

i Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a ditcher scoop with a latch operatingmechanism embody- .ing the invention. v

Referring toithe scoop of F igsfl to Linelusive, 'thereis shown askimmer scoop 1O of'the type shown in Patent 1,536,390, to

which reference is made for a complete disclosure of 'the'same. Theskimmer scoop has .a latched bottom 11 and is moved longitudinally ofthe boom 12 by means of the hauling line 13.

In the operation of excavating machines, ithas. always been adesideratum to employ as few power operated linesas possible. In

.skimmcrscoops which have met'with commercial success, the excavatingiscontrolled by, only two lines, one for elevating and lowering the boomand the-other for pulling the scoop upwardly on the boom or horizontallyalong the boom during excavation.

Also in, commercial forms of ditcher scoops,

as shown for example in Patent No. 1,511,-

114, control of the scoop during excavation is obtained by but two powerlines. In both types of machines, however, dumping has been effected bypulling on a tag line at tached to the latch which secures the bottom ofthe scoop, or else power devices of one kind or another have beenprovidedto relieve the operator of the-manual labor of tripping thelatch. There are serious drawbacks either to hand tripping orto power192 s: Serial 110,292,655.

tripping. Hand tripping usually requires an extra operator whose soleduty is to pullthe line; and-besidesthe expense of anadditionaloperator, there is the further drawbac'kthat unless hisefforts are-closely co-v ordinated with those of theoperator of the-machine, thcre will be frequent spillage of V the load. -Spe'cialpower-tripping; devices always add considerably to the cost of themachine, and being'of relatively light duty I are of relatively lightconstruction and because of their position on the projecting diggingstructure of the machine, which is subjected to very rough use both inthe way 1 of battering and over-stressing, and hence to "distortion, aredifficult to protect adequately from damage and to keep in properadjust- 'ment. 1

According to the invention, the latch is made releasable by'recipr'ocative manipulation of the hauling line which is attached di,rectly or indirectly to the scoop itself. The invention is advantageousin that it may be practiced and used without conflict" with the I normaloperation of the excavating machine during excavation, and withoutchange in the construction of the scoop itself, and hence its preferredembodiments are readily adaptable to present forms of scoops. it I Onthe back wall 14 'of the scoop a; latch 15 is pivotally mounted and hasits lower end engaging a latch piece 16 fixed to the bottom. ofthescoop. The latch-releasing mechanism to bedescribed is interposedbetweenthe latch 15 and the hauling line13and in thepreferred embodimentof the invention is directly actuated by forces imparted to the haulingline 13. Itis within the scope of the present invention, however, toarrange the parts so that the force of the hauling line iszindirectlyused to release the latch. I Examples of mechanisms operated by thehauling line and releasing the latch by means indirectly connected withthe hauling line'are shown in my companion applications, Serial Nos.292,656 and 292,657, filed July 14,1928. M i it To connect the hauling,line-13 with the j scoop and yet permit direct actuation of the latchreleasing means, the hauling. line is secured to a cableclamp17whichispivoted to I an arm 18 of a bell crank lever, in turn pivotedupon a bracket 19 riveted upon the top part of the rear wall 14. Anotherbracket 20 is secured to the scoop wall on the outside thereof andprovides a convenient means whereby a pair of coil springs 21 may beattached so as to tend to rotate the arm 18 in a clockwise directionagainstthe resistance of the hauling line, a cross arm 22 attached tothe bell crank lever providing means for securing the other ends of thecoil springs. To permit a slight reciprocation of the hauling line, aroller 23 is mounted on the bail 23 'of the scoop. From the foregoing itwill be obvious that if the hauling line 13 is released, the bell cranklever willbe moved clockwise by the springs 21; and if the hauling lineis then retracted, the bell crank lever will move counter-clockwisethrough a small angle until the line of pull of the cable 13 is alinedwith the two pivots of the arm 18, as shown in Fig.2.

' 7 It is this slight oscillation of a lever responsive to reciprocativemanipulation of the hauling line which is used to operate thelatch-releasin mechanism proper, as will now be described.

Thesother arm 2 lofthe bell crank lever is pivoted at its outer end to Jan oifset arm 25 (see Fig. 3) which has tendency to movecounter-clockwise because of a spring 26 preferably carried 011 the arm24 and secured to an upper entensionof the offset arm 25, as shown. Thelower end of the ofiset arm25 carries a wedge27- (Figs. 2 and 3), socalled because-it is provided with two upper plane faces which may benearly at right angles to each other and which are designed to co-actwith the latch and with a stationary guide post to effectbottom-releasing movement of "the latch when the hauling line isproperly manipulated. a

As shown, the upper end of the latch has an outwardly projecting arm 28,thejunder surface of which is so shaped and placed that it may bereadily engaged by the wedge 27 when the arm 25 isswung by thesbellcrank lever, permitting the wedge to slide-over it immediately beforetripping of'the latch. The guide post. 29'iprojects from a plate 30secured to the back hf the scoop adjacent the latch, the guide postbeing located .very close to the end of the latch arm 28, as shown.

fPreferably the guide post has two downwardly converging plane surfacescomplementary'to the surfaces on the wedge 27 and preferably is soarranged that it will prevent release of the'latch unless the wedge hasbeen moved inwardly a predetermined dis- 'tance relative tothe latch:The critical point is the position indicated in dotted lines at 27 Fig.2. Unless the wedge 27 moves slightly beyond this critical point,itvwill return to the'initial position. For the purpose of insuring aninward movement of the wedge'past the critical point, there is a guideposition.

wedge 27 up and down an arcuate path.

Upon sharp release of the line, the guiding ;member 31 willnormallythrow the wedge over against the latch or against the arm28 of thelatch,and a sharp retraction of the line at any time after the wedge leavesthe base of the guide and before vit returns to into and through thespace between the guide post and the arm 28, consequently swinging thelower end of the latch 15 outwardly a sufli'cient distance to releasethe latchpiece that point will cause the wedge to be .drawn i 16,permitting the bottom to dump. The

motion of the wedgeduring a complete ef-. fective cycle is indicated inFig. 2, and includes the starting position, positions 27 b and 27, andthe return to the initial position. Position 27 is only attainedwhenthe' wedge is at rest at the base of the'guide, as afterdescendingthe guide slowly, or after returnrapid descent the wedgepasses a little above dotted line in Fig. 2;striking the outer face ofthe guide post, and thence to the starting The described mechanism isdesigned to effect tripping engagement only upon a sharp releasefollowed rapidly bv a sharp retraction of the hauling line. Thissequence is chosen as being a convenient one, but the method may bepracticed with other sequences, and the means here shown may be readilymodified to permit use of other sequences, e. g., the guide 31 maybelengthened, thus shifting the critical position 27 a further towardthe left as the parts are viewed in Fig. 2, so that any sharpretraction, whether preceded by slow release, sharp release or an ingfrom the swing across to position 27 In interval of rest, will causerelease of the bottom.v I

Tt'will be clear that a single release and retraction are all thatisordinarily neces sary to trip thelatch. If through inexperi ence theoperator does not move the hauling line properly the first time, he mayrapidly repeat the operation until the bottom is released. V Y j In Fig.there is shown aditcher scoop wherein substantially the same mechanismas previously described is shown mounted-on be delivered to the scoop.during excavation.

A link 40 pivotally connects the other end of bar 36 with a bell cranklever 41 pivotally mounted upon the rear wall of the scoop, as

indicated. The rest of the'mechanism has been described in connectionwith .Figs. 1 to & inclusive.

While the invention is'most usefulwhen used with skimmer scoops andditcher scoops,

it it is not necessarily confined'to such use. While one of the primaryobjects of the present invention is to eliminate the use of a specialtag line, Whether hand or powcr operated, I believethat Iam the-first topro-.

vide'for the direct or indirect manipulation of a scoop latch (.i. e.,.a latch either for the scoop itself or for the pivoted scoopbottom),

. by any mechanism of the character shown in this and in'the companionapplications; and

hence any equivalent mechanism, whether or not operated by'a haulingline, is within the scope of many of the claims. I.;also regard theemployment of a latch mechanism of any description, ifmanipulated by ahauling line, as within the broad claims of this applicatlon. As theprior art shows no example of latch mechanisms similar in principle .tothose of the applications referred to, I believe I am entitled to a verybroad range of equivalents. No hauling line reciprocating mechanlsm isdescribed or shown because suchmechanism is believed to beproperlyclaimable only in a separate application;

Obviously the present invention is not restricted to the particularembodiment thereof herein shown and described. Moreover, it is notindispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly;since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations andsub-combinations.

'Also, the method of the invention may be practiced with othermechanisms. I

, What I cla1m.1s: p 1. An excavating machine comprislng, in

combination, ascoop with alatched bottom;

a hauling line for moving the scoop in its excavating stroke; aconnection between the hauling line and the scoop permitting slightlongitudinal movement of the line relative to the scoop; andalatch'operating mechanism secured to the hauling'line by means of saidconnection and constructed and arranged to release the latch wheneverthe hauling line scoop; a wedge member movably carried by is sharplyreleased and rapidly thereafter sharply retracted. v

2. An excavating machine comprising, in

combination, a scoop having a latched'bottom a reciprocable line formoving the scoop a wedge member on the scoop moved by the line; andmeans on the scoop for guiding the Wedge member during its movementintosuch a position that it moves the latch to release the bottom of thescoop.- 7 r 3.;An'excavating machine comprising, in combination, a scoophaving a latched bottom; a reciprocableline; a Wedge member release ofthe. line to a position adjacent, the

' latch, and moved by a sharp retraction of the latch to release thebottom. I 4. An excavating machine comprising, in

movably carried by the 'scoop'and connected with the lineso as to bemoved by asharp combination, a scoop having a latched bot- Y tom; areciprocable line. connected to the the scoop and connected with theline so as to be moved synchronously .withthe line; and a guide-way fordirecting .,the"w'edge' member, whichflatter, impelled ,by,,n1o1nentum,over-travels the guide-way into, a; posi- 7 tion adjacent the latch, sothatu-pon pulling the line before the wedge can return to V a positionadjacentthe guide-way,the latch maybe released. a i p r c -5. A machineof the class described comprising, in" combination, a scoop, havingapivoted bottom; a reciprocable linev'connect ed to the scoop; a pivotedlatch securing the bottom and having an upper arm; a guide post fixed onthe scoop" near said upperarm; and a Wedge member movably carried by thescoop and connected with the line so as to be moved by reciprocation ofthe line first to a position of entry between the guide-post and thelatch and then movable between said parts to swing the latch and releasethejbottom. I

6. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a scoophaving a pivoted bottom; a reciprocable line connected to the scoop; apivoted latch securing the bot tom and havingan upper arm; a guide postlfixed on the scoop near said upper arm; a lever connected'with the lineto swing onthe scoop; and an arm pivoted to the lever and carrying aprojecting part which is moved by reciprocation of the line ffirst' to aposition bet-ween the guide post and the latch and then movable betweensaid parts to'swing the latch and release'the bottom.

7; An excavatingmachine comprising, in

scoop and having an arm at its upper end which projects outwardly fromthe scoop; a guide post near said latch arm; a wedge of such dimensionsthat when it passes between said latcharm and the guide post it willmove the latch far enough to release the bottom; mechanism connectingtheline with the wedge; and means for guiding'the wedge during a portionof-its cycle to insure latch release upon sufficient-movement of theline.

8."An excavating machine comprising, in combination a scoop havingapivoted bottom; a reciprocable line connected to the a scoop; aspring-actuated latch for holding the bottom in closed position thelatch being pivoted'hetween its ends to the back of the scoop and havingan arm at its upper end which'projects outwardly from the scoop; a guidepost near said latch arm; a wedge of such dimensions that when passesbetween said latch arm and the guide post it will move the latch farenough torelease the bottom; mechanism connecting the/line with thewedge: and a curved spring against which the wedge bears for guiding thewedge during a portion of its cycle to insure latch release uponsuflicient movement of the line.

i 9. 'An excavating; machine comprising. in combln atlon. a scoop withplvoted bottom;

a latch for the bottom; a hauling line for having a pivoted bottom whichis controlled by a pivoted latch: a latch arm which proi ects outwardlvfrom the scoop: a guide postfixed on the scoop outwardly of but closelyadj acent to the extremity, of. the latch arm; an arm carrying a wedgeat its lower end: mechan sm connecting the upper end of the arm with thehauling line so that upon reci rocation of the line the wedge end of thearm may be moved in a closed path andpass between the V latch arm andthe guide post; and means for guiding the wedge past the critical pointin said path so as to insure movement in one direction only when theline is reciprocated properly.

11. An excavating machine comprising, in

combination; a scoop; a hauling line connected to the scoopand to asource of power and capable, of being reciprocated; said scoop having apivoted bottom which is controlled by apivoted latch; a latch arm whichproj ects outwardly from the scoop; a guide post fixed on the scoopoutwardly of but closely adjacent to the extremity of the latch arm; anarm carrying a wedge at its lower end; mechanism connecting the upperend of the arm with the hauling lineso that upon 'reciprocation of theline the wedge end of the arm may be moved in a closed path and passbetween the latch arm and the guide post; said mechanism including abell crank lever 7 one end of which is'pivotally connected to the upperend of said arm, means, connectingthe other end of the bell crank leverwith the hauling line, a spring connected to thebell crank lever formaintaining a tension on the hauling line; and another spring connectedto the arm for urging the wedge outwardly;

and means for guiding the wedge past the critical point in said path soas to insure movement in one direction only when the line isreciprocated properly. 1

12. An excavating machine comprising, in combination, a scoop; 'ahauling line .connected to the scoop and to a source of power andcapable of being reciprocated said scoop having a pivotedbottom whichiscontrolled by a pivoted latch; a latch'arm which projects outwardly fromthe scoop; a guidepost fixed'on the scoop outwardly of but closely.

adjacent tothe extremity of the latch arm;

an arm carrying awedge at its lower end; mechanism connecting the upperend of the arm with the hauling line so thatlupon reciprocation of theline the wedge end of the arm may be moved in a closed path and passbetween the latch arm and the guide post; and means, for guiding the.wedge past the critical point in said path so as to. insure movement inone direction only when the line is reciprocated, properly; said guidepost 7 having two downwardly converging faces; the wedge having.twoupwardly converging faces one ofwhich isadapted to slide over thatface of the guide post which is adjacent the end of the latch arm,'asthewedge moves upwardly past the latch arm .to trip the latch. 1 I c f-1 13. An excavating machine comprising,in combination, scoop; a haulingline connected to the scoop and to a source of powerand capable ofbeing'reciprocated; said scoop having a pivoted bottom which iscontrolled by a pivoted latch; a latch arm which'project-s outwardlyfrom the scoop; a guide post fixed on the scoop outwardly of but closelyadjacent to the extremity of the latch arm; an arm carrying a wedge atits lower end; mechanism connecting the upper end of the arm with thehauling line so that upon reciprocation of the line thewedge end of'causing the wedge to move inwardly past the critical point in its pathso as to insure movement of the wedge upwardly between the post andlatch arm when the line is reciprocated properly.

14. An excavating machine comprising, in combination, an excavatingscoop provided with a pivoted bottom normally held closed by aspring-actuated discharge latch; a hauling line connected with the scoopto pull the scoop into the material being excavated; and latch operatingmechanism connected to said latch and to the hauling line, and soconstructed and arranged that a release of the hauling line, followed bya short and sharp;

retraction of said line in the direction of its pulling stroke, efiectsa release of said latch. 15. A machine of the class described com- 7prising, in combination, an excavating scoop having an automaticallylatched bottom; a hauling line for the scoop; latch-releasing mechanism;a bell-crank lever pivotally mounted on the scoop and connected at oneend to the hauling line and connected at the other end to thelatch-releasing mechanism; said latch-releasing mechanism being soconstructed and arranged that a sharprelease of the hauling linefollowed rapidly by a sharp latch.

16. A machine of the class described com- 7 prising, in combination, anexcavating scoop having a bottom pivoted at the forward end; anautomatically engaging latch for the bottom having an arm extendingoutwardly from the rearwall of the scoop; a hauling line connected tothe scoop; and a latch-releasing mechanism interposed between theaforesaid latch arm and the hauling line and carried by the scoop, andso constructed and arranged that the hauling line, when vibratedlongitudinally, causes it to deliver a hammer blow against the latcharm.

In testimony, thatI claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixedmy signature.

ROBERT REX DOWN IE.

retraction will actuate it to trip the V

